REPUTATION

I’ve often heard people say that to overcome their reputation, they should live the rest of their lives in such a way that no one would believe their past was true. Well, I know of a few instances where that advice was twisted, and people depended on their good reputation to cover their current sins. After all, no one would ever believe they would do such a thing. They may be correct, but the thing is…God knows.

These people damaged relationships, vocations, and reputations with their sly words and behavior. Some got away with it, and others were served by justice. Some were brought to their knees in repentance. They were the blessed ones.

There is a saying that before using scripture to point out the sins of others, we should use it as a mirror to see our own sins. I take this to heart and have made self-examination a habit as part of my walk of faith. We must take care, though, not to let the reflection in the mirror be our focus. Our focus should always be on God first rather than others or ourselves. Instead, use the mirror as a barometer for changes that need to be made with the Holy Spirit’s guidance, then move forward on your journey.

“Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it–he will be blessed in what he does.” James 1:22-25